First day of school. Accomplished!

Oh man, since I have internet for a while it seems appropriate to actually be blogging and such. And I have a few minutes before my walk to work so I can talk about my time in Okazaki so far.

In such a way that Japan is modern and fresh and new, there are also instances in which Japan is old and keeps to its heritage. I have been placed in the latter of the two.

Okazaki is old, and still holds a ton of old roots to their culture. I have run into more old people that anything else. But they are incredibly adorable! And of course well mannered. I have yet to have anyone give me bad looks. But this could also be due to the Asian face my mother claims I have.

I got off the train station from Okayama where I departed from my friends Deren and Richard, and said goodbye to Naomi and Mark who rode along with me. Each one of us gave each other a big hug with the hopes that after we get used to everything in our area we would meet each other again. Hopefully, Nagoya, but we still worked out anything.

I was greeted by my manager and we walked with my heavy luggage (why did I pack so much!?) towards another train station that would take us into the heart of Okazaki. As we were traveling, I asked Manager (that's what she likes being called) about the apartment.

"I am very sorry, but your apartment is very old," She said.

In all honesty, I was thinking peeling walls, spiderwebs, broken sinks, things like that. But it wasn't the case.

We took the bus, got off and walked in a straight line all the way down to a little apartment complex. White Cloud III. I heard a ruckus upstairs, and I knew that was going to be Ayumi and Alex, the NETS that I would be replacing.

My first impression of them was that they were cheerful people. Ayumi I pictured to be a little bit taller, so you should have seen my surprise when I saw her as a fun size Snicker's bar (kind of like another friend I know).

I walked in and didn't notice much other than that it was spacious! So much leg room to do so much! I didn't care about the old feel to it. I was happy with it's condition (minus a few minor details).

Anywho, they took me out both days, and I ate merrily and happily so there is a happy note of things. I will talk about it later right now I want to get to the point at hand.

My first day of work. Man, it was not as hard as training was that's for sure. I think it's because you are working with children that you need to have a feel of what you will be doing with them. Yesterday, we had to work with one of each classes that I will be teaching on a regular basis, or when Manager changes my schedule. She is already primping me for the new and old moms to observe and see if I do a good job.

One student in particular was so scared of me that he didn't want to do anything at all for activities. He just held the rattle, the abc board, and clutched it. Kind of reminded me of Emilio.

The other students were happy and participating, so I have an idea of how to continue their teaching. I just hope I don't have any babies that cry. I don't think I will be able to handle it.

Yes I can. I survived five munchkins at once, one crying one shouldn't be that tough. :)

Decisions and Okazaki

I have decided to keep working through this blog as I continue with my travels in Japan. If I decide to put out for a real website, I will be moving to Squarepace, but that will be until I decide to lay down some coinage (Something like $16 a month doesn't sound too pricey, but it does when you are in the negative in funds).

So, to continue with my pre-departure adventures, I have decided to fill in some questions my mom was asking me today: Where in Japan will I be working?

I will be working in the city Okazaki, in the Aichi Prefecture, which I  shall let Wikipedia fill everyone in with the rest of the information:

Okazaki (岡崎市 Okazaki-shi) is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is located in the coastal plains of southeastern Aichi Prefecture. The ground rises to undulating hills in the former Nukata area to the northeast. About 60 percent of the city area is forested and remains sparsely populated.The area around present-day Okazaki has been inhabited for many thousands of years. Archaeologists have found remains from theJapanese Paleolithic period. Numerous remains from the Jomon period, and especially from the Yayoi and Kofun periods have also been found, including many kofun burial mounds. During the Sengoku period, the area was controlled by the Matsudaira clan, a branch of which later rose to prominence as the Tokugawa clan, which ruled Japan during the Edo period. During this time, Okazaki Domain, a feudal han was established to rule the immediate area around Okazaki, and was entrusted to a daimyō. Several smaller domains were also located within the present-day city limits, including Fukozu (later Mikawa-Nakajima), Okudono Domain and Nishi-Ohira Domain. The town prospered as a post station on the Tōkaidō connecting Edo with Kyoto. Following the Meiji Restoration, the modern town of Okazaki was established on October 1, 1889 within Nukata District of Aichi Prefecture. On October 1, 1914, Okazaki annexed neighboring Hirohata Town. Okazaki was proclaimed a city on July 1, 1916. The city suffered damage in the 1944 Tōnankai earthquake (which killed 9 people) and the 1945 Mikawa earthquake (which killed 29 people). During World War II, the July 19, 1945 Bombing of Okazaki killed over 200 people and destroyed most of the city. Okazaki was considered an important military target because of its central location, providing food, shelter, and communication to neighboring towns which contained small factories and plants. The attack was meant to destroy industries and decrease Japan’s recuperative potential. Of the .95 Sq. Miles of the city at that time, 65% of Okazaki was destroyed.In 1955, through a series of mergers and consolidations, the area of Okazaki expanded considerably. The former towns of Iwazu, Fukuoka, and Yahagi, and the villages of Honjuku, Yamanaka, Kawai, Fujikawa and Ryugai were all merged into Okazaki. The 1959 Isewan Typhoon caused considerable damage, and killed 27 residents. On October 15, 1962, Okazaki annexed the neighboring town of Mutsumi. Okazaki was proclaimed a core city on April 1, 2003 with increased autonomy from the prefectural government. On January 1, 2006 the town of Nukata was merged into Okazaki.


Local attractions in Okazaki

Okazaki Castle was originally built in 1455. Captured by the Matsudaira family in 1524 (and probably relocated from the other side of the river), the castle remains associated withTokugawa Ieyasu, even though the latter transferred to Edo in 1590. During the Edo period it served as the seat of the Okazaki Domain and dominated the city until the Meiji Restoration.

Okazaki is famous for its fireworks. The Tokugawa Shogunate restricted production of gunpowder outside of the immediate region of Okazaki (with few exceptions), and even today, more than 70% of Japan's fireworks are designed and manufactured here. A large fireworks festival, which people from all over Japan come to see, is held annually on the first Saturday in August in the area surrounding Okazaki Castle.

Hatchō Miso is a dark miso paste made using a process of steaming soybeans (instead of boiling) followed by maturation in cedar barrels under the weight of 3 tons of carefully stacked river stones for at least 2 years. Located 8 chō (Hatchō, or approximately 900m) west of Okazaki Castle near the Yahagi river, the old tiled buildings are heritage listed and one company (Kaku) has been a family business for 18 generations. It is one of the most famous miso producers in Japan, supplying the Emperor by appointment, and popular as a health food. The 2006 NHK morning drama serial, Junjo Kirari (Sparkling Innocence) was largely filmed in and around the Hatchō Miso grounds. Tours are available every 30 minutes and free samples are provided. Hatchō Miso's health properties are so great that it was donated to Chernobyl's citizens following the disaster, to help prevent and treat radiation sickness.

The temple of Takisanji (7th century) includes several Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The main hall is from the Kamakura period and is the location of a fire festival held each February on the closest Saturday to the lunar calendar New Year. The distinctive Sanmon gate and the main image are designated as important cultural properties. Adjoining the temple is Takisan Tosho-gu, a Shinto Shrine built in 1646 by Tokugawa Iemitsu.

More to come. :)

Update for Japan and applying for Amity Aeon

Well, it has been awhile since I gave my acceptance speech, if I can even call it that.

I will be leaving the terrain of the United States on October 12, and be taking an overnight flight to Japan. I still have a long wait ahead of me to spend with loved ones by taking pictures, sharing memories, and eating yummy hamburgers and such. Even though I have been putting restrictions on me for certain days to limit my eating habits, it's not really working as well as my mother hoped. What can I say? This mouth was made to ingest delicious calories.

A little more information for those that are thinking of teaching in Japan: No, I have not began teaching, but so far, I know a bit of the acceptance process, at least for the Eikawa I have applied to.

If you decide to teach abroad in Japan, look into the hiring process, what the people want from you in the essays or paperwork that they want you to fill out. This is your first impression: on paper. As scary as that sounds, don't be afraid, suck it up and just jot down proper vocabulary, good grammar, and correct spelling. Depending on how well they liked your presentation of the essay and/or your other paperwork will determine whether or not you will be invited for a group interview.

Applying for Amity means meeting up for a group interview before you are granted a private one on one interview. What I did to prepare was read up as much as possible in the forums at Dave's ESL and had Google sitting in the passenger seat the whole time. The internet is a massive database of information, and with great power comes great information is what I learned through this trial.

First is dress code: Japan (especially if you will be going to work for an Eikawa school) likes their people to dress conservatively. This means black, navy, dark brown suits with an undershirt. Ladies, pant suits or skirts, your choice, just if you plan to wear a skirt, don't forget hosiery, and not the ones that are fishnet stockings, regular and nude. In other words, be as plain as you can be.

When going up for the group interview, you will be in a room with five other people or just three people. It all depends on how many people were invited for the interview, just be sure you have enough supplies for everyone. If you have left overs that's better than coming up short. They (the people or person that will become your future employer) will come in the room where all applicants are and begin discussing who they are as a company and what they have accomplished and even give a 10-15 minute presentation of a day in the life of an employee. Be sure to take notes throughout the entire time they are talking, don't sit there dumbfounded; look interested.

For the thirty minute lesson plan and the five minute presentation of said lesson plan, do your best. I can't really give much information on the lesson plan, so long as you don't come up short on the five minute presentation and have a clear view of what you wanted to show in the presentation from the lesson plan you should be fine.

Once everyone has done their presentation of their lesson plan, they will give you a grammar worksheet, which should not take you longer than the time given. Afterwards, they will either hand you an envelope or tell you if you will be invited for a second one on one interview.

On the one on one interview, you will be taken to a room to set up a ten minute lesson plan. On the spot, sure, but not that difficult, because it is dedicated to children. Short and simple should do the trick. Afterwards, they will tell you how you did, ask you how you think you did, and then continue with the interview process with questions like why do you want to work in Japan and such. Have a calm complexion and feel prepared to answer their questions. Show confidence mostly.

After that, you have three to four weeks of free time, so my advice is go have some fun and relax, and get ready to bite your nails after three to four weeks are done. If you have been considered for a position, you will have to submit a background check which you will pay for out of pocket, and soon after (literally for me it was the next day) you will be offered a position or an extended invitation, and put on a waiting list.

After that, it's paperwork after paperwork to send back and forth. I have no complaints so far as to how I have been treated in getting everything ready, because the people that I have been in contact with is the best. I have a question, I get on the phone, and I get the answer right away. :)

Well, that's all I got to say about Japan, the application process at Amity, and will write more in the future to keep those that are interested in teaching in Japan an open door with me.

Thoughts on Japan and Amity

I have weird moments when I like to type something online and looking through threads to have my questions answered. Like when I want to know how to breed some dragons in my Dragonvale app that I have in my iPad, or if I can take my little Roku player overseas (that is, if I get offered the job to work overseas).

Currently, I have refrained from expressing anything to anyone about the Amity Aeon position, except my mother, because she was in the Suzuki when I received the email saying that they are requesting a background check. I can only assume that I am keeping a calm exterior due to the fact if I am denied, I won't take it as hard as the time I was not offered the position for Aeon, their sister school.

But in retrospect, as I am trying time and time again to recount where I went wrong in the Aeon private interview, and where I went right, I see that I did more wrong than right. I stalled, I didn't understand how to properly teach the lesson plan, the answers were wrong, I was gasping and taking time simply because I didn't know how else to continue with the ten minute lesson plan.

In short, I choked because I never had the practice. Sure, I read about it in the forums and what to expect, but I was sweating as much as a horse when I was put on the spot like that.

I felt that with Amity, for the private lesson, I was more prepared. And it wasn't as difficult because I was just teaching simple phrases and animal vocabulary. I thought that I did better, and planning out the lesson plan felt more mature.

The one on one interview also helped me out a lot. And now that they requested the background check, I cannot help but think that this can only be a good sign. Wherever they decide to place me, I already told them that I was an open book and don't have any specific preference, because I have never been to Japan and I know that wherever I go will be a beautiful adventure.